Retirements Could Lead to Significant Turnover in Ill. Legislature

A slew of retirements could lead to significant turnover in the Illinois state legislature.

The Illinois state legislature is due for a facelift come 2013, the State Journal-Register reports, as at least 20 of its members are set to retire before the 2012 elections.

In the state Senate, 10 of 59 members plan to retire: five of them Republicans and five Democrats, according to the newspaper. In the state House, 10 of its 118 members will voluntarily step down: seven Democrats and three Republicans. When combined with the seats that will be open because the former occupant retired before the 2010 elections or resigned to run for another office, more than two dozen spots in the legislature will be up for grabs, the Journal-Register reports.

The new districting map, which reflects population trends from the 2010 Census, was drawn by Democrats and therefore should favor them in the race to fill those seats, Kent Redfield, emeritus professor of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield, told the newspaper.

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There are several reasons given for the departures: some lawmakers are headed to the private-sector or seeking a higher office. Others have referenced family concerns or are simply retiring, according to the Journal-Register.